In an election that featured two business-backed candidates and two rivals who called themselves "residents first," "residents" candidates Chris Hamm and incumbent Bob Baker swept to victory Tuesday in the race for two seats on the San Clemente City Council.

Hamm, a firefighter, can expect to be seated on the council Dec. 4 along with Baker, a retired Navy and airline pilot first elected in 2008.

Incumbent Jim Dahl, a retired fire captain, placed third in the race and will leave the council after 16 years.

Mike Mortenson, a business attorney who, like Dahl, was backed by the local Chamber of Commerce's political-action committee, placed fourth.

Candidate David Clegg was fifth.

"I'm very excited about the results," Hamm, the top vote-getter among the five candidates, said Wednesday. "I'm happy that residents will have a voice on the City Council for the next four years. A thank-you to everyone who supported me though my campaign. Our hard work has paid off."

SOME REACTIONS

Reactions were mixed Wednesday. Supporters of the winners were rejoicing, having spent recent years opposing 3-2 City Council votes on several controversial developments, some of which were overturned by residents' actions.

Supporters of Dahl and Mortenson voiced dismay at the amount of money spent to elect the winners, including amounts spent on attack ads alleging that Dahl and Mortenson were willing to destroy San Clemente's village character by overbuilding the town.

Hamm said he spoke with a lot of voters during the campaign and heard positive feedback about the "residents first" message. "They want a voice on the City Council," he said, "and they are going to have it."

Baker said he too was the target of an attack ad that tried to mislead residents about his voting record on the council. He said voters appreciated that he has supported what he called responsible developments while opposing projects he felt were bad for the city.

He added that he had to go to extra effort to counter confusion after another candidate named Bob Baker entered the race and then dropped out, but not in time to have his name removed from the ballot. The incumbent was listed as "1 Robert 'Bob' Baker," the other as "0 Robert 'Bob' Baker." The incumbent, who campaigned as "#1 Bob Baker," said he was gratified that voters made the distinction. The withdrawn candidate polled 4 percent of the vote.

Dahl's response to his defeat was philosophical. "Four terms, that's enough," he said. "We've been able to accomplish a lot in the last 16 years. I just hope it doesn't go to the dark side. My biggest worry is that they're going to be anti-business. It's going to be a real test ... if they show any leadership whatsoever."

Mortenson said he wishes the winners good luck and hopes they govern with reason. "But I'm concerned about the positions those guys have taken," he said.

Mortenson said he tried to run a positive campaign and was disappointed with the negative campaigning against him. "It was so nasty," he said.

Richard Boyer, a supporter of the winning candidates, has been an activist since 2007, when a 3-2 council vote approved a sign-exception permit for a proposed Marblehead Coastal outlet mall that would let its signs exceed city code limits. A group led by Boyer took the city to court, and a judge set aside the approval, citing insufficient environmental analysis.

Since then, all three council members who voted for the sign-exception permit have been voted out in different elections, Boyer noted Wednesday. He said he sees Tuesday's result as further evidence that the council needs to listen to residents' concerns.

Bill Hart, who managed Mortenson's campaign, said he wouldn't be surprised if total spending in support of the two winners and opposing Dahl and Mortenson tops $100,000 when final financial statements are filed in coming weeks.

"I wouldn't want to be a small-business man or a merchant in this city," Hart said. "It's going to be a very business-unfriendly environment."

Lynn Wood, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce, said, "I wish the new council members all the best."

COUNCIL PERSPECTIVES

Councilwoman Lori Donchak said she is "looking forward to our council working constructively on big issues like the General Plan, the Marblehead project and vitality of local businesses."

Mayor Jim Evert, who supported Dahl and Mortenson, said he doesn't believe the election will alter the dynamic on the five-member City Council on most issues. But it will for some issues, he said.

Evert said he fears the council might, for example, withdraw financial support for the Downtown Business Association and economic-development programs it operates through the Chamber of Commerce. "I hope I'm wrong," Evert said.

Councilman Tim Brown could not be reached for comment.

Baker said he plans to continue supporting responsible projects while striving to preserve San Clemente's character.

Hamm, who serves on the General Plan Advisory Committee, said that when the updated plan comes up for adoption, a key issue will be preserving the downtown village character.

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